In honor of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, held yesterday, The Guardian highlighted innovative projects that are making the world's roads safer.
With road collisions the world's leading cause of death for 15- to 29-year-olds, the lack of effective safety laws and driver education - especially in low- and middle-income countries - has produced a global health crisis.
"To mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, we're highlighting a handful of projects around the world that are working to save lives from being lost on the roads," writes Paige McClanahan. "Some of the approaches may seem simple – and their impacts may be difficult to measure – but projects such as these could help chip away at the grim global statistics on road safety."
Examples include a social marketing campaign to reduce drunk driving in Cambodia and brightly colored backpacks to improve the visibility of school children in Tanzania.
Read the full story: Dealing with road deaths: global safety projects that are saving lives
US casts sole dissenting vote against UN road safety declaration
The UN declaration calls for cutting road deaths in half by 2030.
Pedestrian Deaths Fell by Largest Percentage in 15 Years, but Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
After a spike in deaths during the Covid-19 years, road deaths fell to 3,024 in the first half of 2025.
Commentary: Counting Road Deaths by VMT Minimizes the Harm and Normalizes Traffic Violence
When measured per capita, traffic fatalities in the United States far outstrip those in peer countries.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Malls are becoming the midtowns of the future
Mall and office park redevelopments are a generational opportunity to create new nodes of urbanity.
NYC breaks ground on anti-flooding infrastructure project
New York City's new system will reduce stormwater flows to local sewers by 90%.
One Kentucky town’s secret to affordable housing
The Smoketown Community Land Trust has already built seven affordable homes for community members.
Houston gains petal-shaped cooling infrastructure to make streets more ‘delightful’
The city has installed the pavilions along 15 blocks in Houston.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority